400 attend the 2020 Lincolnshire Farming Conference

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Last week’s Lincolnshire Farming Conference on February 11 saw speakers discuss relevant and engaging topics, including climate change and mental health within the Lincolnshire farming industry.

Hosted by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society at the Lincolnshire Showground, the conference saw a record-breaking 400 knowledgeable farmers, exhibitors and industry experts come together to engage in interactive workshops and discuss this year’s theme, ‘the future is now’, for the agricultural industry.

Lincolnshire Farming Conference 2020 – Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography

Stuart Roberts, vice president for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), gave a speech about farming beyond Brexit, the importance of climate change and urged farmers to look after one another and their mental health.

Stuart said: “Now is the most exciting time to be a farmer and we are on the cusp of a transformational time for this industry.

“As farmers, we have the opportunity to really address climate change, we are the custodians to some of the most precious resources, whether that be carbon or water, and it has to be us telling that story and really making a change.”

“According to the Farm Safety Foundation, 84% of young farmers under 40 believe that mental health is the biggest danger facing the industry.

“Statistics like this should encourage us to talk more openly and prioritise our mental health – I can’t stress enough how important it is for farmers to look after one another.”


Simon Day, chairman of the Lincolnshire Farming Conference committee, said he was delighted to see so many younger attendees at the conference and that it is great to see the industry attracting a large number of genuinely enthusiastic and talented young people.

“Young people are a key part to Lincolnshire’s legacy and it was fantastic to hear first-hand from those young people working in agriculture in our county, talking about the importance of education and the need for graduate training schemes.

“It acted as a reminder that we need to continue looking ahead to the next generation to secure the long-term future of farming.”